Max Domi remembers playing with miniature hockey sticks in the Scotiabank Arena hallways growing up.
Next season, he’ll step onto the ice as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs after signing a one-year, US$3-million contract on Monday.
The 28-year-old’s father, Tie Domi, played for the Maple Leafs from 1995 to 2006 and became a fan favourite as a colourful enforcer who punched far above his height at five-foot-eight.
Domi, who stands slightly taller at five-foot-ten, says he’s envisioned himself sporting the same jersey his father once donned since he was young.
“It’s a dream come true, it really is,” said Domi, who calls longtime Toronto captain Mats Sundin family and on occasion took the ice after Maple Leafs morning skates at the then-named Air Canada Centre growing up. “It’s something I’ve thought about for a long, long time and dreamed up over and over again.
“I’ll never forget the feeling of just skating around out there, looking at the seats and being like, ‘man, this would be the coolest thing in the world playing in this rink with every seat filled and playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs.”
Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving’s relationship with Domi goes back to his days with the Arizona Coyotes, who drafted Domi in 2013.
Treliving believes they’ll see the “best version” of Domi playing for his hometown club.
“He has been dying to play in Toronto for a long time,” said Treliving. “Having players that it means a great deal to them to pull on that jersey I think is important, and that’s Max.”
Still, Treliving says they signed Domi for his play — not the Maple Leafs connection with his father.
“This isn’t a legacy signing. This isn’t about anything other than we think we’re gonna get a really good player to help win games,” he said. “Maybe there’s a nice story or two, but this isn’t about signing a guy because he’s got some really cute pictures in the Leaf room.
“Now I think those things, the history, will drive him. It matters. It’s really important to him here, playing here is important, the chance to win here.”
Domi, 28, had 20 goals and 36 assists in 80 games split between the Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars last season.
In 19 playoff games with the Stars, who reached the Western Conference final, he produced three goals and 10 assists.
Treliving says Domi’s ability to play multiple roles and positions, and his recent playoff experience, are things the Maple Leafs are excited to add to their lineup.
“I think he’s become a more responsible player. What I like about Max is also his versatility … he’s got centre versatility, plays the wing, can move up and down,” he said. “I think he’s a much more mature player. He understands the things now that are important. It’s not all about points.”
Domi joins his seventh NHL team after stints with the Arizona Coyotes, Montreal Canadiens, Columbus Blue Jackets, Carolina Hurricanes, Blackhawks and Stars.
His most productive season was in 2018-19 with the Canadiens — when he produced 72 points in 82 games — but 33 of his 43 career playoff games have come in the last two years.
Beyond playing for his father’s team, Domi can’t wait to take to the ice with the talented Maple Leafs roster.
“It just really excited me to come home and play with guys like Auston (Matthews) and Mitch (Marner) and John (Tavares) and Willie (Nylander) and all these great players, Morgan (Reilly) as well,” he said. “There’s just so much talent and it’s a great team.
“It was a no-brainer for me.”
It’s the latest move in an active free agency for Treliving and his brass.
Toronto also added Dylan Gambrell on a one-year contract worth $775,000 on Monday.
Gambrell, 26, had four goals and six assists in 60 games with the Ottawa Senators last season.
The Maple Leafs signed winger Tyler Bertuzzi to a one-year, $5.5-million contract on Sunday, a day after signing defenceman John Klingberg and Ryan Reaves.
“Both (Domi and Bertuzzi), I think there’s a DNA part of them that, we need a little bit more snot to our game,” said Treliving. “I think they both bring a little bit of that, so we felt it was a good day yesterday.”
Toronto also said goodbye to eight players over the weekend as forwards Ryan O’Reilly, Michael Bunting, Noel Acciari and Alexander Kerfoot, along with defencemen Luke Schenn, Justin Holl, Erik Gustafsson and goaltender Erik Kallgren skipped town.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 3, 2023.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
